News

Another Milestone As FirstBank’s Agent Credit Scheme Disburses N1bn In 1 Day

Published

8 months ago

May 30, 2025

Firstmonie Agent Credit Scheme is a FirstBank’s digital lending solution designed to empower a wide range of low-income individuals who face barriers in accessing traditional credit channels. This innovative program offers financial support to Firstmonie Point-Of- Sale agents by enabling them to overcome liquidity challenges and capitalise on new opportunities without disruption in business due to lack of funds in agents accounts.

The Agent Credit scheme is aimed at bridging financial gaps and solving liquidity challenges, resulting from depleted account balances, even when the Agents have physical cash at hand. The scheme helps them to run business effectively by providing digitised loans which are convenient, seamless and easily accessible via the Firstmonie App.

Agent Credit is a groundbreaking innovation that elevates the Agent experience. This game-changing scheme digitalises loan application processes and enables agents access to digital loans with greater ease. By proffering varieties of value-added services for Agents this unlocks new business opportunities, eliminates lengthy payment delays, and provides agents with instant access to loans, hence revolutionising the way they operate and assures their entrepreneurial success.

For over 131 years, FirstBank has been a giant advocate for their customers, enabling their success by providing a secure and trustworthy environment for their financial transactions. Agent Credit is a testament to FirstBank’s commitment to empowering their agents and elevating their business experience.

Reiterating the Bank’s role in deepening financial inclusion in the country, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products, said “With this innovative solution, we are bridging the financial gap and providing our agents with the necessary tools to succeed in today’s fast-paced market. By extending credit facilities with a low interest rate, increasing eligibility loan amount as transaction increases and streamlining loan application processes, we are confident that Agent Credit will revolutionize the way our agents operate, enabling them to reach new heights of success and growth. FirstBank remains committed to financial literacy and inclusion, empowering individuals and communities to manage their finances effectively”.

The creation of Firstmonie Agents was in compliance with the Central Bank’s directive for all banks to expand banking to all the unbanked areas of the country in order to create financial inclusion across the nation. By expanding financial services to rural areas, FirstBank creates employment opportunities and drives economic growth. The presence of banking agents in all the nooks and crannies of the nation was accomplished by FirstBank within a short period of time such that by December 2021 they had covered 772 out of the existing 779 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. These services help businesses grow and innovate, while initiatives like Agent Credit promote financial inclusion, education, and access to financial services, ultimately contributing to economic development.

Since the creation of Agency Banking, the ease of access to business and indeed personal funds has been great. Many lives were lost in the past through travels from villages or rural settlements to the city in order to use banking facilities. Today, “Mobile ATMs” as the agents are fondly called are equipped to carry out services which includes account opening, cash deposit, cash withdrawal, bills payment, and money transfers. FirstBank has undergone several transformations, constantly adapting to the changing financial landscape, pioneering various banking solutions to meet the needs of its diverse customer base. The bank’s retail banking division has been instrumental in providing accessible financial services, contributing to the nation’s economic development. The scheme offers more than funds, the Agents are trained regularly, exposed to technology and other incentives like bespoke award events where attractive prizes are won.

Disbursing N1 billion in a single day to its Agents through the Agent Credit Scheme is a significant milestone by the Nation’s Pioneer Financial institution. This accomplishment underscores FirstBank’s commitment to financial inclusion and its innovative approach to retail banking. Since its launch in 2020 the Agent Credit scheme has provided solutions to the agent’s pressing needs by providing quick access to affordable credit facilities, enabling them to manage liquidity challenges and expand their businesses. Agents can access up to N1.5m with loans disbursed in under a minute through the Firstmonie App. The facility is not only super-fast, it offers a flat interest rate of 0.3% with flexible repayment terms, making it an attractive option for agents seeking to increase their operations.

Since its inception, the bank’s Agent Credit Scheme has disbursed over N571 billion empowering over 37,000 Firstmonie Agents in 3 million loan counts, reinforcing FirstBank’s commitment to supporting Firstmonie Point-Of- Sale agents and promoting economic development. A testament to FirstBank’s Retail Banking leadership. The successful disbursement of N1 billion in a single day through the Agent Credit Scheme highlights the bank’s innovative approach to retail banking and its dedication to financial inclusion.

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By leveraging technology and a vast Agent network, the bank has transformed the banking experience of millions of Nigerians especially those in remote and underserved communities. FirstBank’s retail banking strategy, characterized by customer-centric solutions and digital innovations continues to set industry standards. The bank’s efforts have not only enhanced financial access but also contributed to job creation and economic empowerment across the country.

By empowering Firstmonie Agents with the necessary tools, resources and incentives, FirstBank fosters a more inclusive financial ecosystem, ensuring that banking services are accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their location. As FirstBank continues to innovate and expand its retail banking services, it remains steadfast in its mission to be the partner of first choice in building the future of its customers and the nation at large.

-Leadership

Entertainment

Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss

Published

16 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Olumide Ojo

Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.

The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.

In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.

“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.

Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).

The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.

Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.

“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.

“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.

Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.

He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.

-Guardian

Entertainment

Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women

Published

16 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Olumide Ojo

Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.

The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.

“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.

While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.

“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.

Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.

“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.

He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.

“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.

In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.

“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.

He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.

Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.

“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.

“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”

He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.

-Guardian

Article

Court adjourns Ganduje’s corruption trial to April 15

Published

16 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Olumide Ojo

A Kano State High Court has adjourned until April 15 the trial of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, alongside five other defendants, over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

The defendants are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. The remaining accused persons are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence.

However, defence lawyers raised objections, informing the court that multiple applications were pending and must be resolved before the trial could continue.

Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to some of the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, seeking a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the third and seventh defendants, also referred to a separate motion dated May 23, 2025.
In addition, Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, told the court that an affidavit had been filed notifying it of a pending application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, urging the court to fix a date for hearing.

Only Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, indicated readiness to proceed with the trial.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, adjourned the matter to April 15 for the hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.

The trial has suffered repeated delays due to legal challenges. The high court had earlier dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defence as “incompetent” and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.
That ruling was appealed by the defendants, who argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. However, in October 2025, the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal, citing failure to properly transmit the record of appeal.

-Guardian